Your baby's skin is up to 30 percent thinner than your own, and it loses moisture twice as fast. That means that baby skin is extra prone to dryness and irritation, and their immune system is only just developing. Chemicals, fragrances, dyes in fabric, detergents, baby products, clothing, etc. can all cause irritation, dryness, chafing, allergies and rashes.
Here are our top tips for healthy baby skin and problem prevention:
- Don’t bathe too often
Newborn babies aren’t working 9-5 and hitting the gym afterwards! They are relatively clean and don’t need bathing too often. In the first month they are home you can limit your sponge baths to just 2-3 times per week. Over-bathing can strip baby's skin of natural protective oils and create dryness. Resist rubbing babe with a towel, instead pat dry to avoid unnecessary chafing on fragile baby skin.
- Choose natural fabrications where possible
Soft, natural fabrications are the best choices for a newborn babe, including organic cotton, bamboo, wool and silk. Where sleep is concerned, no other fabrication measures up to the benefits of Silk. Silk is the perfect sleep surface for baby as it is breathable, naturally hypoallergenic, temperature regulating and contains no nasty chemicals. Silk is non-absorbent meaning it won’t strip baby’s skin of natural oils or topical lotions and is perfect for allergy sufferers as it is uninhabitable by dust-mites.
- Choose your products wisely
When buying baby care products, choose gentle, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cleansers and moisturisers instead of standard soaps and lotions. There are also plenty of natural options for babies that are regularly overlooked such as colloidal oatmeal, avocado oil, castor oil and natural zinc!
- Wash baby clothes before they are worn
Baby clothes are often manufactured and then washed with detergents and fabric softeners to make them feel extra special when you buy them. These chemicals can all be transferred to baby (along with any other substances on the garments) when worn without a wash first.
- Use baby laundry detergents
Wash baby’s clothing separately to the rest of the family for the first 6 months or so. Opt for fragrance and dye free detergents that won’t irritate baby’s delicate skin.
